Sustainable Knitting For Beginners And Beyond: 20 Patterns for Environmentally Friendly Knits

by Sascia Strohhammer

Overview

Ready to knit your way to a sustainable future?

Unravel the problem of unsustainable knitting and dive into a world where eco-friendly fibers intertwine with creativity.

Discover new techniques and guidelines for a greener knitting journey. From choosing eco-friendly yarns like bamboo and organic cotton to reducing your yarn footprint, this book is your roadmap to sustainable stitches.

In this hands-on guide, you’ll learn:

• How to select eco-friendly yarns and reduce your environmental impact.
• Techniques for repurposing materials and creating zero waste patterns.
• Tips for transforming old t-shirts and linens into unique cotton yarn.
• Step-by-step instructions for restoring unravelled yarn and turning abandoned projects into masterpieces.


Authored by renowned knitting pattern designer, blogger, and environmentalist Sascia Strohhammer, a.k.a. Epipa, this book showcases her expertise and passion for sustainable crafting. Get ready to embark on a knitting adventure that not only nurtures your creativity but also promotes a more sustainable future..

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781446308813
Publisher:	David & Charles
Publication date:	06/08/2021
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	8.27(w) x 10.75(h) x (d)

About the Author

Sascia Strohhammer is a knitting pattern designer, blogger and author best known by her brand name 'epipa.' She is the author of numerous books and is also an accomplished photographer. She lives in a small village near the Bavarian Alps, Germany, with her family, a dog, three cats and some chickens.

Table of Contents

5         Preface

7         THE BASICS

8         Introduction

10       Mindful and sustainable in the yarn shop

12       Yarns from animals

15       Plant fibres

20       Standards and certifications

22       Make your own T-shirt yarn

24       Make your own cotton tape yarn

25       Relaxing frogged yarn

26       The colours

28       Dyeing yarn with food colourings

30       Sustainable care

32       Knitting techniques

43       PROJECTS       

45       Everyday

46       Introduction   

49       Basic top        

52       Little case       

55       Backpack        

58       Easy peasy cowl         

61       Kitchen           

62       Introduction

65       Kitchen towel 

69       Mesh shopping bag   

73       Hanging organiser baskets    

77       Place mats     

80       Kitchen baskets

83       Dish sponge

87       Bathroom

88       Introduction

91       Body scrubby massage glove

94       Back scrubby

97       Small bathmat

101     Hairband

105     Facial pads for the home spa

108     Scrunchie

111     Living room

112     Introduction

114     Table runner

117     Meditation cushion

121     Patchwork mat

124     About the author

124     Thanks

126     Sources

127     Index

Preface

As a small child, my parents and grandparents taught me how to live sustainably and protect the environment and its resources in order to continue to live off and with it. Neither of my grandmothers ever threw anything away if there was even the slightest chance of finding another purpose for it in the house. They either used it again and again, or turned it into something new. How often did I hear the words, “But you can easily do it yourself, child”? And then they showed me how. With ten children between them, my grandmothers had perfected resource-saving life and sustainable housekeeping. They grew their own fruit and vegetables all year round in the garden, which they cooked and preserved. Clothes were passed on, repaired or patched, as long as it was possible and looked good. When they were too far gone even for that, they were reused – repurposed – in many different ways. Fabric was torn into strips and turned into new rugs, made into toys or – if nothing else was possible – used as cleaning rags. We little girls had bright patches from old floral blouses sewn onto our jeans, which we wore for playing. I could fill another book with the many and inventive examples of how my grandmothers and mother reused and simply reinvented things. I grew up with this wealth of ideas and the joy of thinking ‘outside the box’, of giving new life to old clothes or objects, and the passion of making things myself. In this book, we're going to turn old T-shirts, bed linen and tablecloths into our own cotton yarn and restore unravelled yarn from unfinished projects to its former glory. We will craft beautiful, useful and practical things for everyday life; shopping bags and baskets for the larder, place mats and runners for the kitchen, and rugs and accessories for the bathroom. Finally, I really hope that this book will help you to create lots of lovely projects. For yourself, your home and those who are dear to you. I would be delighted if you would post your finished projects in your InstaStories or feed with the hashtag #sustainableknitting. This will help me to find your channel and share your work with our epipa community. I look forward to it! And now it only remains for me to wish you lots of happy hours of knitting! Ahead of you are lots of cosy hours of making your own sustainable projects which – just like the ones our grandmothers made – may become much-loved family heirlooms. One thing is certain: something you have made yourself will be a gift that no one ever forgets. With very best wishes Yours, Sascia von Epipa